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6 person lakeside cottage Near Chalais/Aubeterre

House in Chalais, (Bardenac). Nr. Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France - In small hamlet in the Southern Charente with private lake.

Nestling beside our private lake is this charming country cottage, located in a small hamlet at the Southern tip of the Charente. The cottage has three bedrooms, two on the first floor and one ground floor bedroom with French windows opening onto a small terrace. There is a cloakroom, spacious living room, a dining hall and a well equipped kitchen/breakfast room. The cottage is located less than ten minutes drive from the market town of Chalais, dominated by the Chateau des Tallyrand ,with its drawbridge leading to the Restaurant Relais du Chateau . In Chalais there are bars, restaurants ,supermarkets, banks,and for leisure ,an open-air swimming pool, and tennis courts.The cottage is also within ten minutes of Brossac where there is a swimming lake, water-sports,mini golf, volley ball, restaurant and bar. Only a little further is the village of Aubeterre which is officially listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Famous for its monolithic underground church and Aubeterre also boasts a lively square full of artisan boutiques , a pottery, antique shops, cafes and restaurants. Further afield but still within easy driving distance are Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Cognac and the seaside towns of La Rochelle, Royan Arcachon and Cap Ferret.

Outside

Lawned area to the front with climbing roses and shrubs, the main area of the garden is to the rear, with lawned areas extending for several acres around the one acre lake . Sunloungers ,padded chairs

Boat

Small rowing boat available. Maximum two people at one time, no unaccompanied children . At own risk. life jackets not provided.

Outdoor Grill

Weber charcoal BBQ plus cooking utensils.

Deck / Patio

The ground floor bedroom has a terrace overlooking the garden. Bistro table and two chairs and planters full of flowers in the Summer .rustic seating around the lake, picnic table and bench . Parasols

Suitability

limited accessibility

Notes

Notes on accommodation:
The cottage is in a quiet country lane which passes through farmland and forms part of a VTT route. There is a barn which is partly attached to the cottage and is from time to time occupied by the owners. Access and garden areas for the cottage are separate from those used by the owners and will not affect privacy, though garden maintenance/mowing/ watering of hanging baskets/flower troughs will need to be carried out during your stay but this will always be by prior arrangement .
Outside:
A quiet unmade up lane runs past the front of the cottage, there is a gravel drive way to one side,for parking, and on the other side is a lawn area which faces the French windows to the living room. The main area of garden is to the rear,and is laid to lawn (grass) areas with mature shrubs, and flower beds. It extends around the one acre lake . The lake is full of fish, which have now become tame, so we do not permit fishing.There are rustic seats around the lake, numerous trees provide shade , and the grassed banks of the lake slope upwards away into fairly dense woodland.From the lakeside there are uninterrupted views over fields to the village of Bardenac.
A short walk from the terrace outside Bedroom 3 brings you to a lakeside area with a picnic bench seating 6 people. A garden table and 6 chairs, parasol, and Barbeque, can be sited in whichever area you may choose.There are also padded sunloungers, badminton set, Boules set, 2 buckets and spades and beach mats.
Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service:
All linen is provided including, sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, towels and tea towels. Duvets and pillows are provided. Cleaning the house is provided before and after your stay. Clean linen will be provided for each week of your stay.
Other:
DINING HALL – On GF, at the front of the house, with door to kitchen and steps up to living room and stairs to first floor. There is a table and six chairs.
CLOAKROOM - Located off the Dining Hall is a large cloakroom with wc suite and handbasin.

House Rules

Check-in: 4:00 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Cancellation Policy

100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date.

14 Reviews

Exceptional5/5

1 - 6 of 14

A little piece of heaven

5/5

Stayed Aug 2018

paula b.

We arrived after a long drive to be greeted by Rod and Kay who took the time to show us their lovely cottage, and tell us about the forthcoming events locally. Rod and Kay have spent many years creating this home from home. Every little detail has been thought of to make your stay as comfortable from the time you arrive. A welcome hamper in the kitchen, cupboard with all the essentials for cooking, sun loungers, table and chairs for outside eating, bbq and all of the necessary coals and fire lighters, buckets and spades for the near by lakes with beaches, garden games, indoor games and DVD's. All bathrooms had toiletry s and fresh towels. There really was not anything that had been overlooked for your stay. The garden was just a little piece of heaven, with large lawns fanning the lake, a small rowing boat and many fish jumping in the water. There are walnut trees, blackberry bushes and a whole host of wild life. Just outside the front door there are many walks and cycle paths,and fields full of sunflowers. The cottage is well placed for a short drive away there are swimming lakes, supermarkets, local markets, restaurants and beautiful villages. We had the most wonderful week and we will be returning.

Submitted Aug 27, 2018

You could not wish for better.

5/5

Stayed Aug 2018

Peter E.

From start to finish, we had a lovely time at Masperier. Rod and Kay, the owners of this delightful cottage, made us more than welcome. It is extremely comfortable, and we lacked for nothing. It is furnished and fitted out with great care and attention to detail, and this certainly shows! The setting by the Lake is delightful and just as the pictures show! Everything about Masperier rates 10/10. We shall definitelyreturn, and would thoroughly recommend.

Submitted Sep 25, 2018

Generous hosts and beautiful property

5/5

Stayed Jul 2018

Derek A.York

We had a highly enjoyable family holiday at Masperier: the cottage and its extensive grounds are beautiful, and the area is full of pleasures, including lovely landscapes, lively markets, excellent restaurants, and fascinating tours of wineries and distilleries. One of the things that made it stand out was the exceptional warmth and generosity of our hosts, Rod and Kay Donaldson, who respected our privacy but were ready to help at a moment's notice. Even our dog was made to feel welcome! We would especially recommend the cottage for up to four people, as the downstairs bedroom is the main route to the garden and the lake, and was sometimes a bit musty during our stay.

Submitted Jul 30, 2018

Tranquil Beauty and a Garden of Paradise

5/5

Stayed Jun 2018

peter h.

Quiet, Relaxing, Private and Very Beautiful. The French Countryside, at it's very best. This is a lovely cottage with exposed beams of old oak and a renovated interior. The encompassing garden is world class and highly maintained by an expert, while at the same time offering the natural feel of the best of French Botanicals. A lake teaming with large, pet carp, with a quiet water fall sound - and surrounded by a perfect garden. The local French markets nearby with all you need and fun to wander through: Cheese, Veg, Sausage, Bread, tourist items. Lots of beauty in the near by towns and villages to visit. Cognac and Wine all over. Fantastic local restaurants. Host were Perfect: English/French Speaking. Very Friendly, Generous & Offering all the help we could ever want.

A straight: 10/10.

Submitted Jun 21, 2018

Lovely cottage for those seeking respite

5/5

Stayed Jul 2016

paul a.

We had a lovely time at the cottage and really enjoyed our stay. Rod and Kay were great hosts and did their best to make sure we had a delightful stay. The cottage is a lot bigger than the images portray and we made great use of the inside and outside spaces. A great space, good people and a welcoming environment.

Submitted Aug 2, 2016

Owner's Response:

Thank you for your feedback , we are glad you found some great places to cycle , kayak and swim , and your family enjoyed relaxing by the lake .

Fabulous First Family Holiday

5/5

Stayed Aug 2015

Emma P.

We had a fabulous first family holiday with our 8 week old baby boy. The pictures do not lie, it is an idyllic cottage with enormous grounds which we were free to roam. We created some very special memories of long balmy summer days and nights spent by the lake. Kay and Rod were wonderful hosts giving us the right level of privacy as well as being incredibly helpful. Being vegetarians in France isn't easy, however, Kay was extremely helpful and managed to sort out some great restaurants for us. Would totally recommend this cottage.

Submitted Jan 27, 2016

1 - 6 of 14

Map

Bardenac, France

Coast/Beach:

River and lake beaches are available just a short drive away at Brossac St Aulaye and Aubeterre. The coastal resorts of La Rochelle, Royan, Archachon and Cap Ferret may all be visited on a day trip.

Travel:

Bordeaux and Bergerac airports are easily accessible being just an hour or an hour and a half away. The Channel Ports of Caen and St Malo are an easy drive of five to six hours away.

Distances:

Chalais is a market town(Mondays) and is less than 10 minutes away. Brossac with bars restaurants and a swimming lake is also less than 10 minutes away. Aubeterre with its monolithic church and beautiful square is about 20 minutes drive. Further afield is Bordeaux which is a little over an hour away and Angouleme( famous for its Ramparts race ) is about 50 minutes drive. St Emillion, Cognac and Brantome are three locations that should not be missed and are less than an hour away.

Further Details:

Chalais hosts a number of major annual events including International horse show jumping and the International Festival of Chamber Music. For leisure there are tennis courts, and an open air pool. Brossac - swim in the lake which has a sandy beach, plus there are bicycles for hire, plus fishing and horse riding and water sports. The Lakeside restaurant -Quai Sud, is an excellent viewpoint to watch the annual firework display on the lake, to celebrate"Bastille Day "14 th July. Aubeterre has a sandy man made beach by the river and you can hire canoes here, similarly St Aulaye has a man-made beach by the river, plus tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, bar and restaurant serving pizzas from their oven, or their Speciality " Moules-frites " .

Availability

Additional information about rental rates

Refundable damage deposit

$193

Booking Notes:
Booking is on line at this site. To reserve the property a non-refundable deposit of 30% is required together with a £150.00 security deposit. Following receipt of the booking and payment of the deposit, the owner will confirm the booking and issue a receipt in respect of the deposit. The balance of the payment becomes due six weeks prior to the commencement of the rental.
Changeover Day:
Arrival and departure will generally be on a Saturday – Depart before 10.00am and arrive after 4.00pm and before 9.00pm. Sometimes it is possible to be flexible with day of arrival and departure, but please check before booking
Notes on prices:
A deposit of 30% of the total rental is required with the booking and the balance becomes due 6 weeks before your arrival date. The deposit is not refundable and guests are advised to take out insurance to protect them against the need to cancel.